Search out information on hydraulic fracturing

Kim McClelland

Posted:
03/27/2013 07:52:09 PM MDT

To the editor:

We do have the technology available, but at whose expense? I have a friend in upstate New York who has been fighting fracking since last December. She sent me a DVD of "Gasland;" it sure opened my eyes. I have also watched "The Sky is Pink," and "Blue Gold," which is on world water wars. I have read many articles, seen pictures and at this time, you could not convince me that fracking in any way is safe. We have these big oil companies coming in. Do not let them bully you into false promises that fracking will boost the economy and bring jobs. People hear money and their eyes gloss over, but what are the long-term effects from fracking? Just how safe is it? You will have a lot more trucks, traffic, pollution and noise, water taken away from crops, animals and humans. We have been in a drought. It takes 12,000 to 100,000 gallons of water plus sand and chemicals, and 37 percent re-emerge to be disposed of. Natural gas has been sold as clean energy. But when the gas comes from fracturing bedrock with about 5 million gallons of toxic water per well, the word "clean" is no more. Don't be fooled. Fracking for shale gas is in truth dirty energy. It inevitably leaks toxic chemicals into the soil, air and water. Industry studies show that 5 percent of wells can leak immediately and 60 percent over 30 years. Three Pennsylvania families have reached a $1.6 million settlement with a drilling company water wells contaminated from faulty cement casings that allowed gas and other substances to migrate and pollute the water wells.

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When you keep punching manmade holes in the earth, what are you going to get? You are breaking up rock, causing fissures where chemicals can seep. All of this for what? The "almighty dollar?" And once the damage is done, there is no reversing it. Is this what we really want for us, our children and our grandchildren? I beg of you to read up on this topic, research and then make a decision.